Easel



(No Model.)

K. (moss.

EASE-L. v

Patented Dec. 26,1893.

Wimes'ses WM W YINITED STATES PATENT OFFIcn.

ANSON K. CROSS, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 511,324, dated December 26, 1893.

Application filed November 23, 1892. Serial No. 452,889. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ANsoN K. CROSS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Easels; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The objects of the present invention are LO provide inexpensive and convenient adjustable clamps for supporting a canvas at any desired elevation, more convenient and effective clamping devices for the extension legs,

and to adapt an easel for use as a photographic camera support.

The invention will be fully set forth in the following specification and claims and clearly illustrated in accompanying drawings formshows the upper portion of the easel and at- Fig. 3, is

tachment for supporting a camera. an enlarged sectional view showing a portion of the easel having the camera holder attached thereto. Fig. 4, is an enlarged broken sec- 0 tional elevation of the adjacent ends of adjustable legs and their improved fastening devices. parts shown in Fig. 4. Fig. 6, represents an elevation of the adjustable canvas supports,

5 attached to a broken portion of one of the easel legs.

Similar reference letters denote corresponding parts.

The legs of the easel are composed of the upper and lower sections A-B, and an adjustable hinged center bar, C;-the latter being mounted so as to slide within a socket provided in the metallic head D, as in Figs. 1 and 2;-my improvements relating only to 5 an attachment to the said bar 0, and to the metallic fastenings for the leg sections A-B, and the canvas supports, which are placed upon the sections A, of the front legs and are capable of horizontal and vertical adjustment 5o thereon.

The leg fastening devices consist essentially in a thin plate E, having integral loops Fig. 5, is an elevation of the same e, one at each end projecting therefrom atopposite angles and away from each other, in such manner that the distance between the free ends of said loops will be greaterthan the length of the said plate E, and a cambutton F, these being utilized asfollowsz-The plate E, is secured preferably to the lower ends of the upper sections A of the adjustable legs, and said plate is preferably depressed therein as shown, in Fig. 4, so as to bring the two sections of the legs as nearas possible together. The loops 6, receive the upper ends of the lower sections B, of thelegs, and these are formed at an angle for two reasons: First, the plate and its loops can thus be cast whole or in one piece without necessitatingthe use of acore in molding, and second, the ordinary inequalities found in the thickness of the leg sections B, may be readily overcome and the loops made a good fit by expanding or contracting the outer ends of the said loops 6, in case of larger or smaller leg-sections, respectively. Small projections a, may be formed on the plate E, to close over the sides of the leg-sections to which the plate is attached, if desired.

The cam button F, has an arm f, by which it may be rotated, and one of its edges f,is thicker than the other. A screw G, passing through the cam F, and plate E, into the leg section A, secures said cam in place, and a thin strip of metal e may be provided, having one end secured by a screw or rivet a to said plate E, to prevent the cam from coming in direct contact with the lower or movable leg B.

The canvas supporting devices consist of a sleeve H, fitting loosely upon each forward leg section A, having a threaded opening in its rearend, a thumb screw it, threaded therein and containing the rivet or gibm and adapted to bear against said leg section for adjusting the rear end of said sleeve H, to the desired elevation, a sliding bar I, having an upward projection or hook 2', at its forward end, and serrations 'i', on its upper edge commencing at its rear end and extending part of its length for engaging with the under rear edge of the sleeve H, and a spring J, which being interposed between the inside edge of said sleeve and the leg section holds by frictional contact the one upon the other wherever desired. The above construction makes a most simple and strong support for the canvas, which rests upon the bar I, against the hook i, as the said bar passes through said sleeve at one side of and at right angles with the leg section which also passes through the sleeve, said 5 bar bearing upon the upper front edge of said sleeve and against the under rear edge thereof, which forces opposite edges of said sleeve against opposite sides of said leg section thereby tightening the hold as the load increases, and when the screw h is turned the canvas is firmly held against the leg. The canvas may be tilted forward at its top and so sustained by placing its upper edge in one of the notches formed for the purpose in the short jointed portion 0' of the sliding bar 0. By reversing the ends of the bar 0, as seen in Fig. 2 and providing the notch 0, shown best in Figs. 1 and 3, I can readily apply an attachment for supporting a photographic camera, consisting of a plate piece K, provided with a thumb screw L, which may pass upward into and secure the bottom X, of acamera thereto, and a socket 70, having a flange 76, on one of its sides which enters the notch 2 5 c, of the bar C;-the said socket is, being formed larger than the bar 0, to the extent of said flange 7c, and a screw k provided in said socket to take up the slack and draw said flange into the notch in said bar as seen in 0 Fig. 3. The attachment may also be modified so as to dispense with the bar 0, the plate K, being provided with a projection fitting into the socket of the metallic head D. The leg adjusting device E, may also be modified 3 5 by substituting for the cam F, a simple wedge which may be pressed in a straight line for tightening the parts, instead of being turned on a pivot, as is the cam F.

Having described my improvements, what I claim is 1. In an easel having legs made in two sections, a metallic connection, attached rigidly to the lower end of the upper leg section and through which the lower leg section may pass loosely, and a tapering piece of metal resting between the two leg sections and adapted to force the lower leg section against the said metallic connection and thereby securely adjust said leg section wherever desired.

2. A metallic fastening for the adjustable leg sections of an easel consisting of a plate for attachment to one part of the leg provided at each end with a collar or loop to receive the other leg section, said collars being inclined at opposite angles sufficiently to allow the plate with its collars to be formed integral and cast in one piece.

3. A metallicfasteningdevice for the adj ustable leg sections of an easel consisting of a plate piece for attachment to the lower end of the stationary section, provided at each end with an integral collar or loop for receiving the movable section, said collars or loops beinginclined at opposite angles and to a degree sufficient to adapt said plate and its integral straps for casting in one piece, and means substantially as specified for securing said movable leg section at any desired point within said loops.

4. In a clamping device for adjustable legs for easels, a metallic plate piece for attachment to the stationary section, provided at each end with an integral loop for receiving the movable section, and a lever adapted for insertion between said plate piece and said movable section and to act as a wedge, thus crowding the latter against said loops for the purpose set forth.

5. The fastening for sliding legs, a metallic plate piece having a loop at each end, and a tapering lever adapted to secure the said legs at any desired position.

6. In an easel, an adjustable support for a canvas consisting of a sleeve for the legs, a spring for holding said sleeve at any desired elevation, and a bar capable of horizontal adjustment within said sleeve having an upward projection at its front end and serrations upon its upper edge near its rear end, all substantially for the purpose set forth.

7. An adjustable support for the canvas consisting of a sleeve for the legs provided with a set screw for holding it at an angle thereon, a spring for holding said sleeve at any desired elevation, and a bar capable of horizontal adjustment within said sleeve having an upward projection at its front end and serrations upon its upper edge near its rear end all substantially for the purpose set forth.

8. The combination of the sleeve provided with a set screw, an adjusting spring, and a bar on which the canvas rests provided at its inner end with serrations.

9. In an easel, the combination with the metallic connection for the legs having a central socket, of a camera support substantially as specified.

10. In an easel, the combination with the metallic connection for the legs having a central socket, a reversible slide fitting said socket serving either to secure the canvas or a camera, and a suitable camera support.

In testimony whereof I afiiix my signatn re in presence of two witnesses.

ANSON K.CROSS.

IVitnesses:

O. M. SHAW, G. H. BARTLETT. 

